Two weeks before Christmas it started to get cold I know I was outside building some sheds, my thermals were dug out from the wardrobe and extra food put in the lunch box. The plus side was at least I wasn’t p-wet through! Good for work bad for the boating side, never mind I wanted to do other things any way and have a natural rest from the Tupperware.

As the high pressure built over the UK talk of winter climbing crept into conversation just before we stopped for the holiday my mind was made up. The snow chains came out of the shed along with a shovel. I pondered on borrowing axes but received hesitant replies as folk started to get their heads into gear for their own winter fun.

 The first day of the holidays after a bit of research and bank scratching I manned up went into Needle Sports. The bloke made his easiest sale ever and I walked out with a manic grin on my face.

Next stop some ice or cold stuff.

The alarm goes off its 5:30; I leapt out of bed and into the winter gear lined up in order ready to put on, ping bowl of porridge down the hatch, screech of tyres on Kris’s street. Carefully place Kris into seat and belt him in for a hair raising trip to the bottom of Sour Milk Gill, Seathwaite.

Now the hard work started, I know its hard going in winter but I was dripping in sweat as we walked up to Green Gable. The sunrise was spectacular as we got to the summit not a cloud in sight.

We did two mixed routes on Green Gable. Kris led the first and I the second. With winter climbing the rules are pretty much don’t fall off, oh and DON’T FALL OFF. That was very much in the back of my head as I scrabbled my way up sweating profusely. It’s along way down and your holding on to your axes for dear life thinking “it wouldn’t take much”, also how good is that last piece of gear? Anyway I seemed to get the hang of it!

Ring Ring the alarm goes again its 4:30 the first weekend in Jan out of bed, breakfast, get Kris, and trudge in to the bottom of Low Water Gill, Coniston. As we approached we were racing head torch lights to the bottom, we lost and weren’t first to it. Luckily we knew the first pair so we had a bit of banter before the climb. Ice is another ball game in itself with the same rules. The falls were solid and blue as your axes struck it made a great sound as sort of thuck as they dug in. I followed Kris’s spectacular lead on the first pitch to the first belay then I lead up the ramp and out. Fantastic we beat the masses now forming at the bottom. From Low Water we soloed up the back of the corrie onto the Old Man another Great Day Out.

An evening wth Murg was also spent on the ice that formed at Tebay, a great place to learn and practice new stuff.

Mid week in November a text woke me from my slumbers, "Scotland, Friday night you coming?" Reluctantly I thought no, I just couldn't face trekking up to Fort William again. The next day whilst at work the weather forecast came on and I listened half heartedly pondering what was going to happen, "Strong gales and Heavy rain forecast for the North West of the country" great I thought and had a quick ring round. 

The Plan.

Friday.

Meet at Mommas foods, load up, drive up to Pitlochry sleep in a van wherever it stops. Why Pitlochry? Closer and easier to access.

Saturday.-Paddle, Eat Sleep.

Sunday. Paddle,-Home

Kris was left in charge of organising, all I had to do was turn up. Super I'm in!

Friday came around and we met up Steve, Kris and I piled into Steve's new van and set off. Dan meanwhile was in York unloading his work gear and trying to reload the play gear.

The journey up was fairly spicy.

We parked up near the Tilt and snuggled up for a cosy sleep three of us in the back of a Peugeout Expert.

Morning came around as did Dan, so after a good breakfast we set off for a hike in up the Tilt no driving required just roll out of bed and walk.

The three amigos all had the patent pending Rainchasers carry system.

Which took a bit of working out, without the Oracle it took a bit longer than it should.

But soon we were off up the track.

Dan went old skool.

The Tilt is a cracking river with some great technical rapids and gorge sections. 

Next up was the Garry, I have viewed this from the A9 in passing since I was about 3 and always thought "ooh water". This time we got on it. The Garry is deep below the A9 flowing down to Loch  Tummel the entry rapid is fairly straight forward, but don't relax as there is an undercut ready to eat you. It ate Steve and we couldn't do anything to help as he was stuck in a corner. Fortunately he sorted himself out and dragged himself out of his boat and out of a nasty place. His boat stayed in for a while then popped out. His paddle stayed for about 10 min in the undercut with Dan and I trying to get it with various flossing techniques. Steve had hurt himself so got off and met us at the bottom. There was one other rapid which was a little thought provoking as it had another undercut. The three of us emerged unscathed and had a liquid lunch with Steve then off to the Brann.

The Brann

A little river falling in to the Tay near Dunkeld.

The section we ran was from Rumbling bridge down to the Hermitage, the level looked ok so we lowered into the gorge and entered. Dan had run this before about 10 years ago (yes he is getting old!) and knew what to expect. Kris and I however had no idea. The gorge goes straight into grade 4/5 all interesting and requiring good teamwork. We all ran everything apart form 'the coffin' and Hermitage falls. It was a great run and extremly interesting rapids. A must for another time.

Saturday night we stayed in Pitlochry Bunk house. Kris rustled up dinner and we had a quick look at the local entertainment. A very odd bunch of folk in the pub who looked like they would beat you then take you back to their lair for further punishment. We escaped to bed.

Sunday brought more rain and a trip over to Killin and Glen Lochay to look at a series of drops behind the power station. A lack of enthusiasm meant we walked away and we went to the Falls of Dochart.

These are another set of rapids I have longed to do from an early age so was keen to get on. Steve manned the camera and we hopped on. Dan made the first eddy, I decided to be cleaver but ended up rolling above the main event and running the lot on my own, Kris did the sensible thing and made the eddy with Dan. They joined me under the bridge for the second part. Most people relax after the bridge, don't as the rapid continues with a cheeky hole just further downstream. Another worthy rapid ticked off the list.

We decided to start heading home going over Glen Ogle to Calender. Steve dropped us off at The falls of Leny to paddle down to Calender. The river was jucing and made for an interesting run.

Homeward bound more rain and bad weather witnessed two aquaplanes and crashes. Got home sensibly and safe. Another great trip, Cheers Lads.

Ok Sarah has had a bike for ages now about 1300miles ago and has been really enjoying it. Then Murg bought one. So I felt left out and decided to man up and don the spandex.

I generally do not have a clue about road biking apart from you can go fast easily, take up country lanes whilst riding side by side, oh and run red lights.

The 2010 bikes started coming out in September so all this years bikes got massive reductions, off I went in search of a bargin.

This is what I got. It is a Cannondale CADD9 with the Tiagra group set.

Basically a black road bike with an aluminium frame with carbon forks for under a grand. They are great fun allowing you to cover great distances fast and reach places I wouldn't consider running to. Also socially it is good as the two of us go and have a race somewhere and a real giggle.

Anyway during that warm spell in September Sarah and I set off on a little mission to cycle from Kendal to Reeth in the Swale valley. We were going for a relatives 90th so why not make a day of it cycle over and get a lift back the next day.

Roughly the overall distance was 55 miles about 3ish hours. We went via Sedbergh up the clough valley checking out all the drops and falls over to Hawes. Then over Buttertubs to Swaledale. 

Turn your head! The 17% hill out of Hawes.

It went on and on!

But what goes up must come down at the top we had a drink and absorbed the view with a feeling of great achievement. This was our first big ride and looking down in to Swaledale we knew the end was close. On the way down I clocked 47mph Sarah just 5 behind. Its very unnerving knowing lycra offers nill protection!

The verdict road bikes a another great way of staying fit and getting quick thrills!

Cheers

Well Saturday rained all day and my phone was hot as usual but I couldn't get out too much work to do and stuff to sort out. Sunday was glourious and still folk were everywhere, boats galore. Still I was working but at 4pm I managed to escape. I grabed my gear and headed for a solo on the Kent. The sky was clear just giving enough light for a quick run. The level was bigger than I thought but hey its only water! Prizet bridge was great, then to the gorge where I now try to challenge myself to get every eddy using all the waves and creases to move around. This includes going through the guts of the main hole, then high cross above the playwave into the next eddy. I emerged from the gorge grinning like an idiot. I do this just to keep me in touch instead of just bobbing down. Sedgwick weir had a cheeky grin but I soon put those thoughts to bed. As I approached the chute above L shape in the gloaming I spotted four playboats on the bank so I pulled over to have a chat. Usual story Uni bunch who knew my brother! They had been at Tyne tour and thought they would do it on there way back, they had just finished scouting the chute. One lass walked out, fair play it was a good medium- high level. The other lass followed me saying "which line?"

" Down the middle " was the reply! Then the two lads followed the second swam above the L shape. To my disbelief and amazement he was up the rock ledges before I knew it. Phew, his boat and paddles were not so fortunate. So from soloing to retrieval , Alec the remaining paddler and I ran the L shape after the boat and watched it go over force falls into the dark I was still grinning like mad as he said it was their first time on the lower kent. We caught up with his boat below the drop and pulled it out. The paddles still have to be found.

It was one of the best solos I have had a real good relax and laugh, but to share it at the end was great I hope Alec and his mates enjoyed their adventure by the end it was smiles all round.

Give me a shout if anyone finds some blue riot blades

Since I last wrote lots has happened. We got busy at work and busy everywhere else. This led to a struggle in motivation to being on the web, but hey, so here I am with a few photos and a generalisation of what we have been up to.

A great bit of running and climbing happened early on last month with all that hot weather. It was brilliant to be outside climbing some true classic routes also to cram some neat evening routes in. I ventured back in to bouldering making the odd trip to badger rock and Kendal golf course, it is great to have so many things to do on an evening with out to much effort needed.

Murg and I entered the lanequest series (cycle orienteering) round south lakes. We rode our heavy mountain bikes against some super quick roadies all organised and slick. But a little bit of local knowledge and elbow grease the pair of us managed to come 3rd in the pairs much to our amazement!

Sarah and I have been out sailing on Coniston on a little 20’ keel boat. The motor is bust so it is a case of sailing off and back on to the mooring, to much amusment of the proper sailers we got under way. However reefing the sail is for wimps and we soon shot off down the lake.

Then the powers that be in the modelling industry called upon my dashing good looks for a couple of photo shoots! One modelling shoes the other head torches. I think this side of my career is going places off to Milan next year!

Then this month the work carried on the heavens opened and river hotline started ringing. This week I dusted off the paddling kit and managed to squeeze in the Troutbeck on Tuesday and on Wednesday GLB and the lower Kent all great fun. Especially as the fisherman on the Kent didn’t understand german. Never mind that’s all till next time,

Cheers.